Professor Tatsuzo Oka In Memory

Professor Tatsuzo Oka in memory, June 23, 2010.

Prof. Oka

(Biochemist and Nutritionist)

Founder of the Novel protein PSP

Dr. Oka, (in short I always address him so) passed away on June 23, 2010 due to lung cancer. It is regrettable because the news of his demise only came to me about two months later. The last time I met him was in November 2007 in Kagoshima, Japan when I attended the ICPH 2007 meeting in Kagoshima with his kind invitation. I brought my wife along and he entertained us to a lavish Japanese food at a restaurant in town and to a dinner at his new house. That showed how time had passed off without notice and we didn’t communicate for a few years until his death.



At the top of Sakurajima

Prof. Yasuo Natori (3rd from left)

A friend of the family

Dr. Oka was a friend more than a mentor to me and we had a very good family relationship. Remarkably he attended my daughter’s wedding and gave a beautiful present. My gratitude is ever due to Dr. Oka for his assistance and all the helps rendered to me during my PhD pursuance. I also recall my first mentor Professor Yasuo Natori who died in 2004 after a fall at a resort in Japan. Prof. Natori and Dr. Oka introduced me to the PSP proteins Research at University of Tokushima in 1995 during my sabbatical leave and in 1997 started my study there. Last not least my deepest condolence to Mrs. Oka – Takiko Oka, his daughter, Yoko Oka and his son, Toshinari Oka.